Collioure Sunday 10 September 2017

Here we are Sunday morning I awoke very early so got started on my day. I went back to bed for a little bit and slept until 6.00am but I was ahead of the game I was already showered etc. Sam had to get organised.  We had our brekky just a small one big day ahead today.  We left the hotel at 8.15am walked to the station lovely morning rain all gone so good start to the day. 

We arrived at the station waited for our platform to go up on the board and made our way to where we needed to be.  Our train started its journey at Ventimiligia today it was a train to Paris Gare De Lyon.  We were the only ones on board our carriage (a booked train today) until we reached Monaco then it took on passengers along the way.  It was a very lovely day today and as the railway line follows the coast it was pretty indeed.  We have used this line before so knew it quite well having alighted at the beach etc. on our last couple of journeys.  There was a lovely dog on board (dogs are permitted on all trains in Europe and the UK and what a good idea) he was funny his owner was having something to eat and she gave him a dentabone type treat he was unimpressed and just dropped it on the floor, Sam and I did laugh when we gave our Chifley his dentabone he would put it under the piano stool we would give him one just to see what he did with it and every time he did the same.  The dogs are so used to travelling they just come on board and sit where they should.  We had left at 9.10am and arrived at Avignon TGV at 12.55pm.  Avignon TGV is a lovely station very State of the Art, it has been added to since we were here six years aso.  We found our platform to go to Avignon Central got on board very space age. Funny they did not check our ticket on the long journey but on this very short one they did. We arrived at Avignon Central most definitely not State of the Art bought something to eat and a coffee and awaited our 3.37pm to Collioure.  Interesting station there is a piano there and whoever wishes can play it, this lovely young man obviously a music student played a Chopin piece just beautiful, anyway this homeless fellow was speaking to this young man and then he sat down and played as well it was beautiful and sad because he was fabulous whatever happened to him I wonder, for him to end up so tragically and he could play beautifully, this lovely young man opened his wallet and gave him some money, humanity hey.  This young man continued to play I did have to go and speak to him he was a delight. It is never the destination is it is always the journey and the people one meets. 

It was time for our platform to go up on the board we hot footed it to the platform as it was a Regional Train, we found a seat stowed our luggage as it was to be a four hour journey to Collioure.  It was the kiddie express all the youngsters all the way along the journey seen off by their parents to uni for the week, Sam and I were the only constants on this journey. We had to hop off at Perpignan and go further up the train to take us to Collioure, which is on the coast about 20 km from the Spanish border.  We had found Collioure in the Good Weekend, they had said it was a pretty seaside town etc. this really was not good enough, after we found our hotel up a hill and we ended up being on the very top floor (he assured us it was the best view and it is) we were the last to arrive for the day, anyway we booked in checked out the pool which is where I intended to spend tomorrow then went down town for dinner, my goodness Good Weekend did not do it justice what a very gorgeous place much to do tomorrow I am afraid.  Poor Sam hoping for a break by the pool. An extremely interesting history and I will embroider on this tomorrow.   We are back in our room I think we will sleep, gracious me anor big day tomorrow but one cannot waste them.  I am very tired now, will post some pics tomorrow.  Sabine and Sam xxx